Ratboys “Penny in the Lake” Review: Singin’ to an Empty Chair Analysis

Ratboys’ “Penny in the Lake”: Turning Silence Into a Masterclass of Indie-Rock

There’s a specific kind of magic that happens when a band stops trying to find their sound and simply starts living in it. With their latest single, “Penny in the Lake,” Chicago’s own Ratboys sound like a band that has finally arrived.

It’s the lead-in to their sixth studio album—and their first for New West Records—titled Singin’ to an Empty Chair. And while that title might sound like a lonely acoustic dirge, the reality is anything but. “Penny in the Lake” is a shimmering, high-energy track that takes the heavy weight of estrangement and makes it float.

A Conversation Across the Void

At the heart of the track is vocalist and lyricist Julia Steiner. She’s always been a gifted storyteller, but here, the stakes feel higher. The song (and the album at large) centers on a difficult dialogue with a loved one from whom she’s become estranged.

Instead of wallowing in the “empty chair,” Steiner uses her songwriting to fill that void. She isn’t just mourning a gap in her life; she’s interrogating it. It’s a brave, uncomfortable, and ultimately beautiful way to handle distance—turning a lack of communication into a vibrant piece of art.

The Peak of Their Powers

If you’ve followed Ratboys from their early DIY days, the confidence on display here is staggering. They’ve perfected that “post-country” blend—a mix of:

• Twangy Guitars: That classic Midwest jangle that feels like a sunset drive.

• Effervescent Energy: A rhythmic drive that keeps the heavy themes from feeling bogged down.

• Emotional Grit: Steiner’s lyrics are more “emotionally interrogative” than ever, asking the hard questions without easy answers.

“The band doesn’t just acknowledge the person who left; they build something massive in the space they used to occupy.”

Why It Hits Home

What makes “Penny in the Lake” so human is that it doesn’t offer a neat resolution. It captures that specific, itchy feeling of having so much to say to someone who isn’t there to hear it. It’s catchy enough to get stuck in your head for days, but honest enough to make you stop and think about your own “empty chairs.”

Ratboys have managed to make a record that is simultaneously their most polished and their most vulnerable. It’s the sound of a band firing on all cylinders, proving that sometimes the best way to deal with silence is to be as loud and honest as possible.